Abstract:An attempt has been made to study the drying behavior of beetroot slices using cabinet dryer. The beetroot slices were dried at 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 + 1°C for 660, 630, 420, 400 and 390 min respectively. There was 36.36 per cent reduction in drying time as compared to 50 and 60°C temperature while it was 40.90 per cent at 60 to 70 °C temperature. The drying rate decreased with increase in drying time. The drying occurred mostly in falling rate period. The drying rates were as high as 0.9 at 65 ºC and as low as 0.1 at 55 ºC.
The drying curves were fitted by means of four different moisture ratio mathematical models that are widely used in most food and biological materials; namely, Henderson and Pabis, Logarithmic, Page and Modified Page. The best model describing the drying process was selected based on the low RMSE, χ2, high R2 and adjusted R2. The R2 and adjusted R2 values for the models were greater than 0.90, indicating a good fit. The R2 and adjusted R2 values for Logarithmic model were varied between 0.932 and 0.963, 0.926 and 0.960 respectively, χ2 values between 0.07 and 0.11, and RMSE values between 0.151 and 0.208. The Logarithmic model was found to be a better model compared to other for describing the drying characteristics of beetroot at all temperatures.